Our vision is that rural communities will increasingly take a leading role in ensuring the social, environmental and economic well-being of all their residents. They will do this in a way that provides for the present generation and also plans for future needs and future challenges. RCAN members will be there to stimulate their thinking, support their work and help turn their aspirations into reality.
The Every Action Counts programme sponsored by Defra between 2006 and 2009 focused on the role of local community action to address the challenges presented by climate change. The aim was to protect and improve the local environment, now and for generations to come.
The Every Action Counts programme was delivered by around 25 national voluntary and community sector networks, working together to stimulate their members and user groups to put into practice ‘one planet living’ and sustainable development initiatives.
Every Action Counts tackled five different themes:
Save energy
Travel wisely
Shop ethically
Save our resources
Care for your area
In helping to deliver the programme, ACRE worked through its Rural Community Action Network members to ensure that all activities in supporting community action on the ground recognised the longer term impacts of change. Sustainable development and climate change are now integral to our advice and support on community-owned assets, services and community led planning.
View the official Every Action Counts video, which features ACRE’s work as one of three delivery partners chosen for special recognition.
View an additional videoof the role of ACRE and the Rural Community Action Network in helping to harness community action in meeting the challenges of the future.
ACRE also made strong connections with our network’s project on 21st Century Village, which included an additional focus on the impact of ‘Peak Oil’ on generating sustainable rural communities in the future.
ACRE was commissioned to write the official Every Action Counts guide for groups that own or manage local community buildings. Click here for Your Community Building Countsweb version
75% of our network members have signed the Third Sector Declarationon Climate Change and are recognising best practice in environmental practices in their organisational planning.
For more information and access to a wealth of resources to help your organisation or community group make a difference, visit www.everyactioncounts.org.uk
Publications
Your Community Building Counts - This publication is part of the Every Action Counts programme which is funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Click here to view
Changing the way we work - A guide to greening your office. This book is supported by a substantial amount of on-line resources. Click here to view
Every Action Counts... for our event - A guide to running smart and sustainable events for people working in the voluntary and community sectorClick here to view
